The Effect of Birth Ball Exercise on Labor Pain, Delivery Duration, Birth Comfort, and Birth Satisfaction (BB)

Selcuk University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Labor Pain; Birth Disorder; Childbirth Problems

Treatments: Other: birth ball exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05711472

2020/1924

Details and patient eligibility

About

It has been reported that the birth ball has benefits such as decreasing the perception of labor pain, reducing the anxiety level, shortening the duration of the first stage of labor, increasing the satisfaction of birth, and facilitating the descent of the fetal head, but the literature is quite limited. So, this randomized controlled experimental study aimed to examine the effect of birth ball exercise on labor pain, delivery duration, birth comfort, and birth satisfaction.

Full description

This randomized controlled experimental study aimed to examine the effect of birth ball exercise on labor pain, delivery duration, birth comfort, and birth satisfaction. The sample of the study consisted of 120 primiparous pregnant women presented to the delivery room between November 2021 and April 2022. Pregnant women were randomly assigned to the Intervention Group (IG, n=60) or the Control Group (KG, n=60). After the cervical dilatation reached at 4 cm, the pregnant women in the IG performed birth ball exercises, adhering to the birth ball guide created by the researcher. No intervention was made in the control group other than standard midwifery care practices.

A Personal Information Form,a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Childbirth Comfort Questionnaire (CCQ), a Labor and Postpartum Follow-up Form, and the Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale (MCSRS) were used for data collection. Women in both groups underwent VAS when cervical dilatation was 4 cm and 9 cm, and the CCQ was applied when dilatation was 8 cm. The MCSRS was administered two hours after delivery.

Enrollment: 120 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• being 18 years or older;
• being in 37-42 weeks of pregnancy;
• having a singleton pregnancy;
• having a cervical dilatation of 1-4 cm;
• being primiparous;
• not having any complications that prevent vaginal delivery;
• not having any extremity problems for using the birth ball and performing activities;
• being able to speak and understand Turkish.

Exclusion criteria

• Having maternal and fetal complications (oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios, placenta previa, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, presentation anomalies, intrauterine growth retardation, fetal anomaly, intrauterine death, fetal macrosomia, fetal distress, etc.),
• getting pregnant by assisted reproductive techniques,
• electing cesarean section.

Exclusion criteria in the research process:

• To receive induction (oxytocin, prostaglandins, and misoprostol);
• having a cesarean delivery due to any complications;
• the baby admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for any reason;
• receiving analgesics.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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120 participants in 2 patient groups

Experimental

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention Group Three different ball sizes, 55, 65 and 75 cm in diameter, were provided to the pregnant women, and the appropriate ball size was determined according to the height of the participant. In order for the pregnant woman to continue the balance exercises, they were allowed to sit on the round birth ball with their knees and hips at an angle of approximately 90°, with an upright spine. A birth ball of 55 cm was used for women between 150 and 160 cm in height, 65 cm for women between 160 and 170 cm, and 75 cm for women between 170 and 185 cm in height. Exercises with the round birth ball were guided by the researcher and the pregnant women performed the exercises in line with the guide. These are the movements performed with the round birth ball in 3 different positions: sitting (pelvic rocking movement, forward-backward and right-to-left rocking, forward supported sitting, and springing motion), kneeling, and squatting (ball hugging and pelvic rocking motion).

Treatment:

Other: birth ball exercise

No Intervention

No Intervention group

Description:

Control Group The followings were administered to the pregnant women in the Control Group after they were admitted to the hospital for delivery: * Information was given about the research, * Written consent was obtained, * Routine practices and care were provided in the delivery room (taking anamnesis, taking vital signs, demonstrating correct breathing techniques, ensuring freedom of movement) * Cervical changes were recorded on the partograph by vaginal examination, * EFM (Electronic Fetal Monitoring) was applied based on doctor's orders, * Fetal Heart Sound (FHS) was listened to every half hour and recorded on the partograph.